David Moyes denies claim he was responsible for a ‘no Africans’ transfer policy at West Ham

Adamant Hammers boss even insists he was trying to sign TWO African players on deadline day

Dave Kidd

2 Feb 2018, 22:30

Updated: 8 Feb 2018, 17:54

DAVID MOYES has denied a claim he was responsible for a “no Africans” transfer policy at West Ham.

The club’s sacked head of recruitment Tony Henry made the allegation to a newspaper reporter.

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David Moyes denies involvement in claims about West Ham's transfer policyCredit: Getty

But Hammers boss Moyes is adamant the accusation is categorically untrue.

And he even insists he was trying to sign TWO African players on deadline day.

Henry was suspended on Thursday ahead of a full investigation by West Ham but axed last night.

Ahead of today’s visit to Brighton, Moyes was told that, in a transcript of a conversation between Henry and a journalist from the Daily Mail, ‘Henry said it (the ‘no Africans’ policy) was a directive from the manager’.

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Tony Henry has been sacked by West Ham as head of player recruitmentCredit: West Ham

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David Moyes speaks with Tony Henry before his sacking on FridayCredit: PA:Press Association

But Moyes said: “Well, as we were signing two African players on deadline day, you’d have to say it’s incorrect and wrong.”

Moyes was chasing Leicester’s Algerian Islam Slimani, who was loaned to Newcastle, and Cameroon-born star Ibrahim Amadou, who stayed at Lille.

Karren Brady - Racism will never be tolerated

AS our statement confirmed on Thursday, Head of Player Recruitment Tony Henry was initially suspended pending a full and formal investigation into comments attributed to him regarding the signing of African players.

Having viewed the transcript of his conversation with a journalist, his contract was terminated.

Racism or any form of discrimination will just not be tolerated.

And I can confirm with absolute faith and certainty that West Ham United is a football club built on a bedrock of equality, diversity and inclusion. From our location in one of London’s most multi-cultural areas, to our diverse and loyal fanbase and a globally recognised first-team squad made up of 15 nationalities, these values are at the heart of everything that we stand for.

I could not be prouder of the work that we have done — and continue to do — in ensuring that anyone who steps foot inside the West Ham United family, regardless of their nationality, is made to feel safe, respected and included.

Having been suspended, Henry was axed within hours of the revelation he had implicated Moyes — who called Henry’s allegation “a massive shock”.

In a statement, West Ham said Henry had been sacked “following his unacceptable comments”.